Inside Amy Sheppard’s move to Nashville

It’s not all glitz and glam for Amy Sheppard and her siblings as they settle into their new life in the US.

It’s been a case of eating brown rice and tuna for the singing Sheppard siblings as they settle into their new life in Nashville.

Amy Sheppard – who was unmasked as the singer under the Orca costume on Tuesday night – moved to the country music capital of the US just three weeks ago with her bandmates – brother George and sister Emma.

Chatting via Zoom after her reveal on The Masked Singer, she shared that they were all tightening their belts, eating in a lot to save money after their big move from Brisbane. They’re living in one-room apartments next to each other.

Amy with her siblings George and Emma from the band Sheppard before they headed overseas. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The exchange rate is difficult so we’re just doing the best we can, saving as much money as we can ahead of touring next year,” Amy said.

“It might have been cheaper to get a house, but it’s nice to have our own space.

“And also it snows in Nashville in winter – so we didn’t we want to have to shovel any driveways.”

The trio headed overseas in a bid to embrace their biggest fan base which is in the US, and to give their next album the best chance of succeeding, after 2021’s Kaleidoscope Eyes – which was released while Australia was still in the thick of dealing with the fallout of Covid – failed to find a huge audience here.

While financially it’s challenging, Amy’s excited at the opportunities. They’re already working with a host of talented songwriters for both Sheppard and her own solo country music pursuit.

“It’s just being able to connect with so many talented musicians and collaborate with some of the finest artists in the world whether that’s artists or producers,” she said.

“It’s like everyone you speak to here is somebody. Even just getting a takeaway coffee, you’ll bump into someone incredible artist who’s had a million streams.

“And I find that there’s no judgment – like everyone’s really excited to work with fresh faces.”

Amy Sheppard is looking forward to the opportunities in the States. Picture: Supplied

Sheppard was unmasked as the singer underneath the Orca on Masked Singer. Picture: Ten

Amy jokes she’s now got her fingers crossed for a collab with country music superstar Garth Brooks after a chance meeting with his manager Bob Doyle.

Her reveal on the Ten show came after one of the biggest surprises of the season – “Burger Gal” was none other than a member of pop music’s royal family, the Jacksons – La Toya.

Amy couldn’t believe she had stood next to La Toya, when they were both in the bottom two. Nor that she sang in front of Spice Girl Mel B.

“It was a pinch-myself moment because I was such a huge fan of the Spice Girls growing up – when I was little I had a Mel B Barbie. She was my favourite,” Amy said, adding her mind was further blown when Mel told her off air that she was a huge fan of Sheppard’s smash hit Geronimo.

Amy is the eight celeb revealed, following Jackson, Aussie singer songwriter Pete Murray, Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, The Block judge Shaynna Blaze, Summer Warne, daughter of late cricketing legend Shane, Ten newsreader Sandra Sully and US actor Brian Austin Green.

A new wildcard joins the competition on Monday night to challenge the remaining four originals – Snow Fox, Cowgirl, Bouncer and Grim Reaper.

The Masked Singer, Monday-Tuesday, 7.30pm, Ten